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Our 45th Year Second Presbyterian Church 600 Pleasant Valley Drive
Little Rock
RMeadows@aaamissouri.com
/ milhistory@aristotle.net
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Infrastructure of Arkansas in the Civil War By Tom
Dillard Tom Dillard, Head of the
Special Collections Department of the University of Arkansas
Libraries will be the guest speaker of the monthly meeting of the
Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas on Tuesday, October 28.
Active in Arkansas history
circles, Dillard is a past president of both the Arkansas Museums
Association and the Arkansas Historical Association. He was named
Humanist of the Year by the Arkansas Humanities Council in 1984. In
2001 he was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Arkansas
Historical Association. His works include Researching Arkansas History: a Beginner’s Guide in 1979 and Arkansas History: An Annotated Bibliography with Michael Dougan and Timothy Nutt in 1995. Dillard will bring a
program about the infrastructure of Arkansas in the Civil War.
The meeting will be held
ad 7:00 at the Second Presbyterian Church at 600 Pleasant Valley
Drive in Little Rock. Hope to see you Tuesday
night! Rick Meadows President Early
Roads in Arkansas The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, a project of Tom Dillard, states that early travelers in Arkansas used rivers and creeks for transportation. Military roads were constructed in Arkansas from the 1820s to the mid-1840s and used for troop movement. Some of the early trails in Arkansas were converted into military roads in the early 1820s. Two examples of these trails are the Southwest Trail, first used in the 1760s, and John Pyeatt’s Road, which Pyeatt built in 1807 from the Crystal Hill area to an Indian trail leading to Arkansas Post. One of the most important military roads in Arkansas was the Memphis to Little Rock Road. Crossing the swamps of eastern Arkansas had always been a hurdle to population growth in the state. The construction of a road from Memphis to Little Rock opened a conduit that would allow settlement in western parts of the state. By 1827, sixty miles of the road had been constructed from Memphis west toward Little Rock, with the rest completed by the mid-1830s. As Arkansas became a state, two things happened concerning roads; the first was Act 167 of 1836, which stated that all public roads laid out in pursuance of the laws of the territory or state of Arkansas were declared public highways. This act codified the existing territorial laws and placed the responsibilities of construction and maintenance of the public highways in the hands of the county courts. Secondly, the U.S. government, in an effort to improve federal mail service, began a new wave of road construction and reconstruction of the existing military roads. These post roads were constructed from 1836 to the late 1860s under local contract at federal expense. The cost of this work was split by the U.S. Post Office and the Department of Agriculture. These roads provided a network for communication and commerce in areas with no steamboat. Along with the construction of new roads, the old military roads were reconstructed as part of this system. The first of these roads, called “post roads” because they were built to facilitate the delivery of mail, in Arkansas was built very soon after statehood between Batesville and Lewisburg in Conway County. It utilized parts of the old Fort Smith to Little Rock military road, as well as new construction. From 1836 to 1871, road construction in Arkansas did not change. Post roads continued to be constructed and improved, while public highway construction began to center on connecting the “roads to nowhere” to the post road system.
Old Wire Road Railroads in the Civil War Steamboats in the Civil
Steamboats at Vicksburg
During the Civil War both
Union and Confederate forces exploited steamboats for rapid
communication and transport of troops, horses, and supplies on
Arkansas waters. Little Rock, Pine Bluff, DeValls Bluff, and
Helena became major re-supply centers and shipping points, first
by the Confederacy, then by the Union. Civilian vessels were
chartered; in the case of the Homer, the Confederacy made
use of it until its capture by the Union and scuttling in the
Ouachita River in April 1864 at Camden. Bombardment of
Confederate positions on land by Union gunboats was an important
factor in the capture of St. Charles in Arkansas County on the
White River in June 1862, the destruction of Arkansas Post in
January 1863, and the defense of Helena July 1863. The
Engagement at St. Charles included the scuttling of three
steamboats by Confederates in a vain attempt to block the
upstream advance of the Union fleet. The capture of Little Rock
in September 1863 saw the sinking of more Confederate vessels,
including the gunboat Pontchartrain. Throughout the war,
Union-chartered steamers and specially built tin-clad nd
iron-clad warships were fired on regularly from the shore, and
Confederates even managed to capture and burn the tin-clad
Queen City at Clarendon in June 1864. For additional
information go to
www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net
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Saved By the Bible
Soon after the Battle of
Manassas, Stonewall Jackson wrote an amazing account of a
Confederate soldier whose life was saved by a Bible.
Mr. James Davidson’s son,
Frederick, and William Page (son of my dear friend) were killed.
Young Riley’s life was saved by his Bible which was in the
breast-pocket of his coat… How ironic that a
soldier’s life was literally saved by carrying his Bible into
battle. Notice that he carried it in a pocket which covered his
heart. Little did this soldier know that his habit of keeping
the Word of God near his heart would one day save his life. We need more than just
head knowledge of Scripture. It needs to rest deeply in our
hearts. When that happens, the Bible becomes a shield of truth
protecting us from the enemy’s fiery arrows. It brings
salvation, protection, comfort, and a shield against temptation.
(PG 214) Stories of Faith and
Courage from The Civil War: Battlefields & Blessings.
Written by Terry Tuley, Chattanooga, Tennessee. 2006 Article furnished by Steve Chamness of Cabot |
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In Case You Missed It Tom Ezell, member of The Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas took not only one tumble off his bicycle, but two on the third annual Big Dam Bridge 100 held on Saturday, October 4th. Celia Storey, who writes for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, reported that volunteer, Tom Ezell had a “rocky morning”. He wheeled into the Mayflower rest stop with a bandage on his face, a battered knee and a sore rump. “I’ve kissed the pavement twice this morning.” He said. His first tumble was caused by answering his cell phone while riding. He landed on the grass. His second fall occurred at Chester and La Harpe Boulevard in Little Rock. A rider ahead of him braked suddenly; he veered to avoid a collision, but his front wheel lodge in cracked pavement. “Flipped me right over my handlebars. I went scooting along about four feet of pavement,” he said. He still had a long day with 75 more miles to go. On the way back he got a flat tire about 15 miles from the finish. He finished the 100-miler in eight hours and 40 minutes. Ezell is a resident of Scott, Arkansas. He is a regular speaker to our Roundtable and is a Civil War re-enactor on the weekends when he’s not biking. Just think, Brig. General Marmaduke would have appreciated his cavalry covering 100 miles in eight hours! Sore rump and all! Reprint of article Arkansas Demcrat-Gazette, Monday, October 6, 2008 (PG 6E).
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Preservations Efforts at Reed’s Bridge And David O. Dodd Marker 
Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Your financial assistance is being
called for 2 worthwhile projects in Central Arkansas. First, the Reed’s Bridge
Battlefield Preservation Society and the City of Jacksonville are
working together to preserve the site of the battle that occurred on
August 27, 1863. Two key parcels of land are under consideration to
purchase. One is across Hwy 161 from the present park. The amount
for this part of the battlefield is approximately $55,000. The other parcel is south of the
Bayou where Confederate artillery was stationed. This amount is
approximately $70,000. Donations to preserve these core
pieces of the battlefield can be mailed to: Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society 100 Veterans Circle
Jacksonville, AR 72076  Second, The David O.
Dodd memorial marker will be relocated to a spot immediately behind
the McArthur Museum of Military History in the coming months. The
Arkansas Military Heritage Foundation is trying to raise $1500 for a
new “Wayside Sign” to be placed at the Museum. This new sign will
better explain the Dodd story. The goal is to have the signage in place by January to commemorate the 145th anniversary of Dodd's execution as a Confederate spy. Contributions are tax-deductible and should be sent to the Arkansas Military Heritage Foundation at the museum or to: Be sure to write “David O. Dodd
Marker” in the memo section of your check. Thank you for your financial
consideration in support of these efforts. Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission  www.arkansascivilwar150.com is your link to the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in Arkansas. This new web site has news releases, research & education information, and detailed information to many of the Civil War sites in Arkansas. As a reminder, please contact your state legislators and ask for their support of the General Improvement Fund grant of $716,630 over 2 years. Monies will be used for markers, preservation efforts, publications, and grants for local observances. |
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November 30, 2008
An invitation has been
sent to the public by the Save The Franklin Battlefield, Inc,
to attend the 2008 Battle of Franklin Commemorative Illumination
Ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 30th
in front of the Carter House on Columbia Avenue in Franklin,
Tennessee. Approximately 10,000 luminaries will be displayed to
represent the total battle causalities: killed, wounded, and
missing. The ceremony will begin at 4:45 P.M. and will include
comments by author Erick Jacobson and period music performed by
Olde Town Brass.
For additional information, contact Save The Franklin Battlefield, Inc at: P.O. Box 851 Franklin, TN 37065-0851
615-480-9539 |
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Prairie Grove – Here We Come!
December 5-6 
Borden House At the last meeting
of The Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas, we had 5-6 persons
who expressed interest in a Civil War Battlefield Tour of
Prairie Grove. With the 100th anniversary of the
Battlefield Park, (1908-2008), we are planning on
invading Prairie Grove on Friday, December 5. A representative
from the Park may join us for dinner on Friday to add to the
experience. In addition, we may have 1 or 2 noted historians
join our group! The Prairie Grove
Battlefield State Park will commemorate the 146th
anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove with the
presentation of a new original oil painting by Andy Thomas.
In addition, historian and author, Dale Cox, is scheduled
for a book signing of his new book, The Battle of Massard
Prairie. We will participate in guided tours through
Union, Confederate, and civilian camps and view various
military drills. We will take part in an 1862 political
rally, arguing for/against martial law and conscription.
Some of you may even be removed to jail! Infantry and
cavalry attacks will take place near the historic Borden
House. Prairie Grove is
recognized nationally as one of America’s most intact Civil
War battlefields. On December 7, 1862 the Confederate Army
of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the
Frontier resulting in about 2,700 causalities in a day of
fierce fighting. This marked the last major Civil War
engagement in northwest Arkansas. The United Daughters of
the Confederacy (UDC) bought the original 9 acres in 1908.
The State of Arkansas now owns 838 acres, including the low
ridge that was the center of the Confederate line. Friday, Dec 5 3:00 P.M. Depart Little Rock –Second Pres Church 6:30 Arrive Fayetteville - Best Western 6:45 Dinner
in Fayetteville (Herman’s ) Saturday, Dec 6 6:-9 A.M. Complimentary Continental Breakfast 9:00 A.M. Visit Hindman Hall Museum 10:00 A.M. Guided Tour 12:00 P.M. Lunch with Boy Scouts 1:00 P.M. Battle Re-enactment 3:30 P.M. Depart Prarie Grove 5:00
P.M. Dinner – Russellville (Holiday Inn) 7:45 P.M.
Arrive Little Rock We will carpool up
to Prairie Grove, 4 per car. If we have more than 8 persons
on the tour, we will rent a large passenger van. Spouses
are invited! Cost Best Western,
Fayetteville (2 people per room, 2 queen beds, non smoking) Room Rate $86.62 with AAA Discount Room Rate $96.25 without AAA Discount Museum Tour - free Tour Guide – free Parking at Park - $4 per car Meals – not included Gas and van rental
not included Due to cold
December weather, please bring warm clothes and hiking
boots. For additional information and to register contact: Rick Meadows (501-843-9090) |
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Annual Conference 2009 Civil War Preservation Trust The
Fields of Gettysburg
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Planting
the Union Flag in Texas
The Campaigns of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks in the West Stephen A. Dupree Appointed by President Lincoln to command the Gulf Department in November 1862, Nathaniel Prentice Banks was given three assignments, one of which was to occupy some point in Texas. He was told that when he united his army with Grant's, he would assume command of both. Banks, then, had the opportunity to become the leading general in the West—perhaps the most important general in the war. But he squandered what successes he had, never rendezvoused with Grant's
army, and ultimately orchestrated some of the greatest
military blunders of the war. "Banks's faults as a general,"
writes author Stephen A. Dupree, "were legion." Readers will have a holistic
understanding of Banks’”appalling” failure to win Texas and
may even be led to ask how the post-Civil War era might have
been different had he been successful. This fine study will
appeal to Civil War buffs and fans of military and Texas
history. Stephen A. Dupree is retired
from Sandia National Laboratories, where he served as an
expert in nuclear nonproliferation, international
safeguards, and the detection and analysis of nuclear
radiation. A lifelong interest in the Civil War, Dupree
holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Purdue University.
He lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Texas A & M University Press $40 cloth 1-800-826-8911
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Hope to see you October 28, 2008 at the Civil War Roundtable Meeting!
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Copyright ©2008 Civil War Round Table of
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